HISTORY OF TRANSIT AND INNOVATIVE SYSTEMS

TRENDS IN THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY FROM THE EARLY 1900'S TO THE PRESENT ARE TRACED. TRANSIT RIDERSHIP IS FOUND TO HAVE FOLLOWED A HALF-CENTURY SLOW AND PREDICTABLE RATE OF DECLINE AFTER LEVELING OFF IN THE IMMEDIATE POST-WORLD WAR I YEARS. INNOVATIVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES WITH DEMAND-RESPONSIVE CHARACTERISTICS ARE ANALYZED. THESE INCLUDE BOTH JITNEY SERVICES AND HOME-TO-WORK SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES IN PEORIA, ILLINOIS; FLINT, MICHIGAN; WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA; AND LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. THE MANSFIELD, OHIO, CONVENTIONAL AND DIAL-A-RIDE BUS SERVICES ARE EXAMINED. /AUTHOR/